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This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Policy documents - Common Purpose'.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Norfolk Constabulary 
M
  r J. Walker 
Freedom of Information Department 
Jubilee House 
R
  [email address]
Falconers Chase 
 
 
Wymondham 
 
 
Norfolk  NR18 0WW 
D
  ate: 11th
ate: 11  September 2008 
 
Tel:   01953 42 4487 
 
Fax:  01953 42 4080 
 
Email: [Norfolk Constabulary request email] 
 
www.norfolk.police.uk 
Non-Emergency Tel: 0845 456 4567 
 
 
 
 
Dear Mr Walker 
 
Freedom of Information Request Reference No
Freedom of Information Request Reference N : FOI/333
o
/08 
 
I write in connection with your requ
I write in connection wit
est for information received by the Norfolk Constabulary.  I note 
you seek access to the f
you seek access to the ollowing info
 f
rmation: 
ollowing info
 
1. Copies of your organisation’s policy documents relating to the selec
Copies of your organisation’s policy d
tion of
ocuments relating to the selec
 
tion of
personnel for Common Purpose training 
2.  Copies of ALL correspondence (emails, letter, memos et
Copies of ALL correspondence (e
c) relating t
mails, letter, memos et
o the select
c) relating t
ion of 
o the select
personnel for Common Purpose training 
n Purpose training
 
Extent of Searches to Locate Information:
arches to Lo
 
To locate the information relevant to your request, searches were conducted within the Human 
Resources Department, and the Force Executive Department of the Norfolk Constabulary. 
 
Result of the Searches to Locate Information Relevant to your Request. 
 
Information relevant to part 1 of your request 
The Norfolk Constabulary does not hold any recorded information relating to a policy of selection 
for training courses offered by a training provider called “Common Purpose”. 
 
Information relevant to part 2 of your request 
A request under the Freedom of Information Act is for information and not documents. I have 
therefore interpreted your request as referring to ‘all information about the selection of 
personnel for Common Purpose training.’ 
Any recorded correspondence between members of the Constabulary and their line managers 
relating to attendance on, or recommendation for, training courses aimed at personal development 
may be held within individual personnel files; may be held as part of a staff member’s personal 
development record (PDR); or may be held as stored email, memo or handwritten notes in a staff 
member’s or line manager’s computer account or desk drawer. 
 
As of the 31st of July 2008, the Norfolk Constabulary employed 1652 Police Officers and 1479 
members of Police staff.  To establish if any recorded information is held relating to 
 
 
recommendation or selection of personnel for training courses the Norfolk Constabulary could 
conduct a manual search of all personnel files and PDRs. 
 
The Norfolk Constabulary estimates that to manually search every personnel file and PDR would 
take in excess of 782 hours (this is based on an average of 15 minutes to manually read each 
persons personnel file and PDR record).  This would exceed the appropriate limit for dealing with 
Freedom of Information requests, in terms of costs, and therefore Section 12(1) of the Freedom of 
Information Act applies. If a query of computer files based on the phrase ‘Common Purpose’ were 
conducted, all responses would have to be viewed manually to establish whether they referred to 
the selection of personnel. It is impossible to estimate the time it would take to search all desk 
drawers.  
 
Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act states that a public authority is not obliged to: 
“…comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that 
the cost of complying with the request would exceed the appropriate 
limit.” 
The Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations, defines the ‘appropriate 
limit’ for the Norfolk Constabulary as £450, and specifies that this sum equates to 18 hours work at 
a standard rate of £25 per hour. 
 
Unfortunately we are unable to confirm if any recorded information is held regarding this aspect of 
your request, as to establish if the information is held would require us to manually search the 
records as explained above.  In accordance with Section 17(5) of the Freedom of Information Act 
(2000), this letter serves as a Refusal Notice for this aspect of your request.   
 
You may find it useful to know that Chief Officers will periodically discuss the suitability of staff 
members to attend training offered by Common Purpose.  
 
I would like to thank you for your interest in the Norfolk Constabulary, and I can confirm that a copy 
of this response will be published in the “Disclosure Log” section of the Norfolk Constabulary’s 
web-site under the category “Personnel”.  You can access the disclosure log via the following 
web-link: 
http://www.norfolk.police.uk/foi_disclosurelog.cfm?bctrail=0,540
 
 
Should you have any further queries concerning this request, please contact me quoting the 
reference number shown above. 
 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
 
Dawn Clarke 
Freedom of Information Department 
Tel: 01953 42 4487 
 
A full copy of the Freedom of Information Act (2000) can be viewed on the ‘Office of Public Sector 
Information’ web-site; 
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/
 
The Norfolk Constabulary is not responsible for the content, or the reliability, of the website referenced. The 
Constabulary cannot guarantee that this link will work all of the time, and we have no control over the 
availability of the linked pages. 
 
 
Your Right to Request a Review of Decisions Made Under the Terms of the Freedom of 
Information Act (2000).
 
If you are unhappy with how your request has been handled, or if you think the decision is 
incorrect, you have the right to ask the Norfolk Constabulary to review their decision. 
 
Prior to lodging a formal request for a review, you are welcome, and encouraged, to discuss the 
decision with the case officer that dealt with your request. 
 
Ask the Norfolk Constabulary to look at the decision again.
 
If you are dissatisfied with the decision made by the Norfolk Constabulary under the Freedom of 
Information Act (2000), regarding access to information, you must notify the Norfolk Constabulary 
that you are requesting a review within 2 months of the date of its response to your Freedom of 
Information request.  Requests for a review should be made in writing and addressed to: 
Freedom of Information Decision Maker 
Professional Standards Department 
Norfolk Constabulary 
Operations and Communications Centre 
Jubilee House 
Falconers Chase 
Wymondham 
Norfolk NR18 0WW 
 
In all possible circumstances the Norfolk Constabulary will aim to respond to your complaint within 
2 months. 
 
The Information Commissioner.
 
After lodging a request for a review with the Norfolk Constabulary, if you are still dissatisfied with 
the decision, you can apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision on whether the request 
for information has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Act. 
 
For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner please visit their 
website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk or contact them at the address shown below: 
The Information Commissioner’s Office 
Wycliffe House 
Water Lane 
Wilmslow 
Cheshire 
SK9 5AF 
Telephone: 01625 545 700